Gabriel by Believer
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Release date : March 2009
Reviewed by Mark Fisher
Background information
Review
Background information
As far back as April 2005, rumours were abound regarding a fourth studio full length from Believer, especially since erstwhile Believer members Joey Daub (drums) and Kurt Bachman (guitar / vocals) crossed paths once again after eleven years. By June, it had been revealed that a new composition had been completed, with two other songs in the process of being written. Over two years later in September 2007, it was disclosed that the duo had tracked drums and guitars for five new tracks. In late October, three new “pre-production” snippets were available for streaming through Believer's official MySpace page.
During late November, it was announced that production had begun upon the actual recording of a new Believer record at Trauma (Believer's recording studio). Daub had tracked all of his drum parts by late December, whilst Elton Nestler had tracked all of his bass parts by late January 2008. Midway into February, rhythm guitar parts had been completely laid down. Bachman completed vocals, meanwhile, by late June. Through Believer's MySpace page, it was revealed the group had inked a record contract, though it wasn't until mid November that the record label in question was disclosed as being Metal Blade Records. Earlier that November, mixing was completed. Guest appearances were made by; Joe Rico (Sacrifice), Deron Miller (CKY / World Under Blood), Rocky Gray (ex-Evanescence / Soul Embraced / Living Sacrifice) and Howard Jones (Killswitch Engage). On November 17th through Radio Bam, skateboarder and TV personality Bam Margera's weekly radio show on Sirius Satellite Radio 28 / XM Radio 52, a new track entitled “Medwton” underwent its global premiere. The title of Believer's fourth studio album was announced as being Gabriel during mid January 2009.
In late January, Gabriel's track listing was revealed, as well as its artwork, which was designed by Michael Rosner and Eye Level Studios. To achieve the artwork, a live model named Danielle Asher was masked and photographed wearing horns. Via its official website, Decibel magazine uploaded a video previewing music from Gabriel, as well as behind the scenes footage from the album's cover shoot. During mid February, “Focused Lethality” was made available for streaming through Believer's MySpace page. Late that month, video footage of Jones lending guest vocals to “The Brave” surfaced. In mid March, “Stoned” was made available for streaming. Gabriel was released on March 17th in the United States and Canada, on April 9th in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, and Spain, on April 14th in the United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Norway, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Portugal, and Greece, and on April 15th in Sweden and Finland.
Review
Even as a longtime Believer fan (years ago, purchasing their 1989 debut full length Extraction From Mortality via mail order catalogue), this reviewer never once entertained the idea that the group may return someday. Believer's third and last full length studio album Dimensions was issued in 1993, yet now the group have returned. Partnering with Killswitch Engage vocalist Howard Jones' Metal Blade Records imprint Cesspool Records to issue a new studio release entitled Gabriel, to be honest, it feels as though time has stood still. Still, Believer is one of the most creative groups within Metal music, something which Gabriel proves.
Once deemed “thinking man's Metal”, Believer are as intricate and interesting as ever upon Gabriel. To wholly realize this, one needs only to listen to the album's inaugural track, namely “Medwton”. Opening like a scene culled from a horror movie (with medical sounds, bizarre clicks, and assorted noises heard best when the stereo's volume is really loud), the number quickly breaks into some great guitar riffing as well as signature snarling vocals (think of Megadeth's Dave Mustaine, yet pissier and more strained). Slightly disconnected from the rest of Gabriel's tracks, “Medwton” will nonetheless immediately engage fans of Dimensions. Fans who prefer Believer's initial two albums (Extraction From Mortality and 1990's Sanity Obscure) may take a little while to warm up to the song, since it leans heavily towards the progressive aspects Believer became known for by the time of their initial demise.
After that initial epic concludes, Gabriel begins firing upon all cylinders. The more straightforward “Stoned” and “The History of Decline” recount the days of Sanity Obscure, though without necessarily reliving those days. When you pair “Focused Lethality” alongside the two prior songs, you begin to realize that Believer pay homage to their past rather well though never forcibly drag that past into the here and now. The “retro” sound of Gabriel is sonically very natural, something most reunion groups don't accomplish so well nowadays.
What hinders Gabriel is twofold. Firstly, its weak ending in “Nonsense Mediated Decay” is likely the most fitting title upon the whole album, and the untitled tracks of noise which follow cheapen the sound of a magnificent comeback full length. The other sore aspect is the track which features Howard Jones, namely “The Brave”, in a dual lead vocal role. For all intents and purposes, the song is excellent. However, the number is a sore thumb since it sonically resembles a Killswitch Engage composition, as opposed to sonically resembling Jones lending vocals to a Believer track.
Generally speaking, the surprise surrounding Gabriel's excellence is second only to the surprise surrounding Believer's return. Fans who loved Believer's other works will also love Gabriel. With that said, Gabriel stands mightily on its own as well, and the outfit will gain a whole new generation of fans as a result. Few groups stand so expertly upon their own two feet, sounding familiar yet completely unique all at once. Believer has achieved this upon every single album, including Gabriel.
